THE FOURTH BLOW

The sixth lesson                                                                  

Watercolor by Pat Morgan

That taught me to survive

Wasn’t any deeper

Than the previous five.

The fifth knock

That opened the door

Wasn’t any louder

Than the previous four.

The fourth blow

That split the tree

Wasn’t any harder

Than the previous three.

The third stone

That twinkled like new

Wasn’t more precious

Than the previous two.

The second effort

That got the job done

Wasn’t any greater

Than the previous one.

This last stanza

That needed to be said

Wasn’t profounder than

Those already read.